Cajun Corner - Vol. 4, No. 16

Cajun Corner – Vol. 4, No. 16 – April 29, 2012

Bon Jour!  Welcome to Cajun Stitchery’s weekly email and welcome to our family.

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Don’t forget to visit our blog at www.cajunstitchery.blogspot.com, and www.cajunstitchery.etsy.com often.   We are also on Twitter and Facebook. 

Visit our on-line catalogs at:

http://www.imprintit.biz/cgi-bin/cobrand/site.w?location=olc/catalog-home.w&top=catalog&frasmes=no&target=main&sponsor=000699

and www.companycasuals.com/cajunstitchery.

We survived the wreck with a bruise on my arm and George jamming his little finger.  We are fine.  George’s vehicle, however, was totaled.  This week was spent dealing with car dealers and insurance companies.  Having spent a significant number of years as a paralegal in personal injury law firms, I am aware that a person rarely comes out ahead.  We were lucky that the other vehicle was covered by insurance.  The haggling over the value of our vehicle was very stressful.  We looked all over the internet at local car dealerships for vehicles the same year and condition as ours.  There simply were none.  So, we tried to find newer models in the same condition, mileage, etc.  We found a few that were close but none with the low mileage.  It turned out that the insurance company took into consideration Craig’s List.  That was so wrong in our book but according to the Florida Insurance Commissioner it is totally legal.  They found 2005 Outlanders on Craig’s List and south Florida with odometer readings of 100,000 up.  Our vehicle had 35,000 miles and we had bought it new – one owner.    In the end, we were told that we had to return the rental car by Monday, April 30^th, whether or not we had another vehicle.  They did come up in their price a little.  Our local dealership told me to share the NADA value for our car with them.  They said that didn’t matter to them.  So, we have spent days searching for a vehicle.  As of yesterday we have a new replacement vehicle.  We had to throw in some of our money but the fact is that we need a safe vehicle.  Hopefully, the check will arrive tomorrow and we can make this part of our life a memory.

Needless to say neither George nor I accomplished a lot of work last week.

A friend of mine has a chocolate mint plant.  She told me that it smells like chocolate and has a taste similar to a Girl Scout Thin Mint cookie.  That is George’s favorite cookie.  I bought one of the plants online today.  It should be delivered in about 10 days and is guaranteed to grow.  Mint usually grows like weeds and I’m hoping the same is true with this plant.

Last week I did meet with a friend for lunch.  She is an acupuncture physician and an herbalist.  During our conversation we were talking about the stevia that I grow.  She told me how to take the dried and powdered stevia, put it in a coffee filter over a cup, and pour boiling water over it to create a fusion.  That’s probably not the right word.  It works.  It created a liquid stevia that I can actually use in my coffee without little green particles floating to the surface.  Now if I can get the chocolate mint plant to grow, I’ll be able to have my own, organic Starbuck’s coffee. 

It did come to my attention this week that I’ve been very neglectful with our Etsy store.  I embroidered a beautiful handkerchief using a silky-type pink fabric with pink thread.  The handkerchief is embroidered with one of our stock designs flipped over to create the square.  The edges were sculpted to conform to the edges of the design.  It turned out so pretty that I made another one for myself.  That worked out so well that I took another design and copied the design to create 4 edges and with the same pink on pink, embroidered another beautiful handkerchief that I will be listing in our Etsy store.  Things were going so well with this idea that I used a lace design, same pink on pink, but not so lucky this time.  The handkerchief turned out beautiful on the front but the reverse side has the tear away stabilizer pretty much in there permanently.  I tried picking out the stabilizer but it takes a ridiculously long time and still cannot get it all.  Stay tuned though, because I have some other ideas for the lace.

If you are not a subscriber and would like to receive Cajun Corner weekly, please email cajunstitchery@yahoo.com and let me know to put you on our email list. 

Two Trees and a Woodpecker

It is hard to find a joke today without a dirty word or two in it, but here is one:

Two tall trees, a birch and a beech, are growing in the woods. A small tree begins to grow between them, and the beech says to the birch, 'Is that a son of a beech or a son of a birch?' The birch says he cannot tell, but just then a woodpecker lands on the sapling.

The birch says, 'Woodpecker, you are a tree expert. Can you tell if that is a son of a beech or a son of a birch?'

The woodpecker takes a taste of the small tree and replies, 'It is neither a son of a beech nor a son of a birch. It is, however, the best piece of ash I have ever poked my pecker into.

Now wipe that smile off your face...

Removing Splinters

Make a paste using water and about ¼ teaspoon of baking soda.  Put the paste on a bandage/band aid and put the band aid on the affected area.  Leave it on for 24 hours.  Take the Band aid off.  If the splinter is visible pull it out with tweezers.  If not visible re-apply the baking soda paste and Band aid for another 24 hours.

For more detailed instructions go to: http://www.wikihow.com/Remove-a-Splinter-with-Baking-Soda

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C’est tout, mes amis

Peggy Henshall

Cajun Stitchery

(850) 261-2462

cajunstitchery@yahoo.com

P.S.  You are always welcome to stop by and look at all of the catalogs and pass some time with me, cher.

Cajun Corner - Vol. 4, No. 15

Cajun Corner – Vol. 4, No. 15 – April 20, 2012

Bon Jour!  Welcome to Cajun Stitchery’s weekly email and welcome to our family.

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Don’t forget to visit our blog at www.cajunstitchery.blogspot.com, and www.cajunstitchery.etsy.com often.   We are also on Twitter and Facebook. 

Visit our on-line catalogs at:

http://www.imprintit.biz/cgi-bin/cobrand/site.w?location=olc/catalog-home.w&top=catalog&frasmes=no&target=main&sponsor=000699

and www.companycasuals.com/cajunstitchery.

We began this week going to my friend’s funeral on Monday.  It was a double funeral since he and his daughter passed away within three days of each other.  Our hearts and prayers are with this family.  I must say that was one of the most beautiful services that I’ve ever seen.  It began with a rosary and the service was sung.  I saw many old friends from when I worked at the Levin firm.  It was good to see everyone.  It was just sad the circumstances that brought us together.

To top off the week, George and I were in a wreck last night.  I’m still dealing with the insurance company.  Today we’ve decided to cancel all appointments and just be kind to ourselves and hang out around the house.

One of the reasons that I love embroidery is because the machine takes charge and stitches incredibly accurate designs.  I also love to sew but for all of the years that I have sewn, I still cannot sew a straight line.  This brings us to this week’s topic of buttonholes.  Don’t you just love that segue way?

Any sewing machine can do a straight stitch and create seams.  Most sewing machines can do zigzag stitches to secure the edge of a seam, but what about zippers and buttonholes?  Any stitch on a sewing machine is a combination of straight stitches and/or zigzag stitches.  That sounds simple enough. 

Historically buttonholes first appeared in Europe in the 13^th century.  They are simply a hole in fabric to insert a button.  A hand sewn buttonhole is created by making a slit in the fabric and encasing the edges in small, tight stitches.  A sewing machine buttonhole usually has two parallel rows of zig-zag stitches with bar tacks on either end.  The hole is cut after the stitches have been sewn.  A keyhole buttonhole is a normal buttonhole with a tiny circle at one end, rather than the bar tack on that end.  The circle is intended for the shank of the button, so the fabric isn’t distorted.  Then there is the bound buttonhole, which is a slit in the fabric encased with fabric or trim.  Men’s buttonholes are on the left and women’s buttonholes are on the right.

A button and buttonhole are pieces of a closure, just like hooks and eyes are pieces of a closure, snaps are closures, frogs are closures, and several others.

My first buttonholes were nothing less than ugly.  It was difficult for me to get the satin stitches (tight, cumulative zig-zag stitches) even and smooth.  We already know that I’m impatient.  Hence, buttonholes were always frustrating for me.  I have gotten better with buttonholes and sewing machines have become easier to make buttonholes, but nothing does buttonholes as nice as an embroidery machine.  Depending on how big of a hoop you are using and how many buttonholes you need, etc., you can digitize the buttonholes in a line with precise measurements, secure your fabric to the hoop and let the machine work its wonders.  But that isn’t all an embroidery machine can do with buttonholes.  Because it is, after all, an embroidery machine, you can actually turn your buttonholes into embroidery designs.  Or, rather, the other way around, you can turn your embroidery designs into buttonholes. 

This opens up a world of possibilities.  It is possible to take your logo, for instance, and insert the buttonhole stitching.  Maybe you wouldn’t see a need for that, but what about your logo as a patch with a buttonhole.  You could wear it as a name tag when you go to conventions or seminars.  Just hook it onto your shirt button.  This would be unusual and an eye catcher.  We have several designs for beautiful, embroidered buttonholes in stock, as well. 

Shirts are not the only items that have buttons.  Since buttons and buttonholes are merely closures, this would work for any closure, replacing the closure with buttons and buttonholes.  In fact, one of the online embroidery design websites shows how to make a purse, surround the top edge of the purse with pretty buttons and make difference covers for the purse to match each of your outfits by embroidering buttonholes at the top to match the corresponding buttons on the purse.  You never have to change the contents of your purse, just the outer casing.  How nice is that? 

What about making an embroidered pocket with a buttonhole?  The possibilities are endless.

If you are not a subscriber and would like to receive Cajun Corner weekly, please email cajunstitchery@yahoo.com and let me know to put you on our email list. 

Have you ever asked someone what they want for their birthday or Christmas or whatever the occasion, and the reply was, “Nothing”?  This would make the perfect gift.  I found this at http://www.craftbits.com/project/a-jar-of-nothing-gift

For this project all you need is an empty jar.

You can print this saying out onto some adhesive label paper suitable for your printer or print it onto normal plain paper. Use some clear craft glue to adhere it to the jar.

If you want to go all out you can add some ribbon to the jar and even box it up for a great gag gift.

--The Saying---

Did you say nothing?
When you were asked what you wanted for
Birthday, Anniversary, Graduation or Christmas.
Don't you remember saying NOTHING
Well this time someone heard you, searched
high and low and found this perfect gift for you.

The 'Mint-Chocolate' Herb Plant has a chocolate and peppermint fragrance that will remind you of an after-dinner dessert! Its attractive spike-toothed leaves are bronze-green and blooms are long, feathery, and lavender-hued. The perennial Chocolate Mint herb needs full sun and does well in most well-drained soils. It reaches a height of up to 18 inches and is a somewhat invasive spreader if not controlled. Bees and butterflies flock to mint flowers. Fresh or dried, this mint is delightful added to teas, coffees, chocolate desserts, and baked goods. It's a beautiful edible garnish!

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C’est tout, mes amis

Peggy Henshall

Cajun Stitchery

(850) 261-2462

cajunstitchery@yahoo.com

P.S.  You are always welcome to stop by and look at all of the catalogs and pass some time with me, cher.

Cajun Corner - Vol. 4, No. 14

Cajun Corner – Vol. 4, No. 14 – April 14, 2012

Bon Jour!  Welcome to Cajun Stitchery’s weekly email and welcome to our family.

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Don’t forget to visit our blog at www.cajunstitchery.blogspot.com, and www.cajunstitchery.etsy.com often.   We are also on Twitter and Facebook. 

Visit our on-line catalogs at:

http://www.imprintit.biz/cgi-bin/cobrand/site.w?location=olc/catalog-home.w&top=catalog&frasmes=no&target=main&sponsor=000699

and www.companycasuals.com/cajunstitchery.

Easter was a wonderful day.  George and I dyed eggs the night before and when visiting our friends on Easter Sunday, we hid the eggs in their yard.  The eggs were located and we hid them, again, throughout the house.  It was a lot of fun.

It has been a sad week.  One of the attorneys I worked with many years ago passed away in a drowning accident.  What makes matters even worse is that one of his daughters passed away last Saturday.  My heart and prayers goes out to this family.  They were a very close knit family.   The ray of sunshine from this horrible situation is that I was able to reconnect with some very dear friends from the law firm.

The scalloping edges are coming along.  I did another shirt with a scalloped edge and a design which turned out okay.  There were problems along the way with thread and needle breaks, but that is just more of me learning the new machine, I think.  All of the scallops that I have done so far have been on jersey tee shirts.  The first attempt was on the pink tee shirt and the second attempt was on the navy tee shirt.  Wovens will be much easier.

Have I ever discussed puff embroidery?  Puff embroidery is made using foam.  The foam is the same foam that you see when you go to a craft store or department.  Sometimes they are cut in the shape of little animals.  Sometimes they are larger circles or squares.  They even have visors made from the foam.  Puff embroidery uses a satin stitch, so, it cannot be very wide or the satin stitches will loosen and get caught on things.  It is also difficult to take a photograph of an item using puff embroidery and actually showing the effect.  The effect is that the stitch covered foam heightens the embroidery.  It is a texture that you can feel.  The design must be digitized for puff embroidery by eliminating the underlay.  At the point in the embroidery where the foam is used, the machine will stop.  The foam is then placed in the area for the puff embroidery and the machine begins stitching a dense satin stitch, thus perforating the foam.  When the area of puff is completed, just lift off the remaining foam and it is done.  Sounds easy, huh?  There are some complications with foam.  One is that sometimes little pieces of the foam protrude through the stitches.  This is resolved by using a pin to push the foam under the stitching.  It is always a good idea to use the same colored foam as your thread.  Another method is a magic marker pen in the same color as the thread.

Puff embroidery is great for outlines or even something less than ½ inch wide or so, but what if you want a larger area raised in your embroidery?  How would that be accomplished?  It can be done, you know.  The method is trapunto.  According to Wikipedia:

“Trapunto, from the Italian for "to embroider," is a method of quilting that is also called "stuffed technique." A puffy, decorative feature, trapunto utilizes at least two layers, the underside of which is slit and padded, producing a raised surface on the quilt.”

The trapunto method can be used on modern embroidery machines.  I’ve never tried it but the instructions make sense and seem to be fairly easy. 

If you are not a subscriber and would like to receive Cajun Corner weekly, please email cajunstitchery@yahoo.com and let me know to put you on our email list. 

Found this at http://www.craftynest.com/2010/07/camp-craft-duct-tape-wallets/

How to make duct tape wallets

Supplies and tools

·                 duct tape (Duck brand is available at The Home Depot, Michaels, and many other stores. TapeBrothers.com carries the widest selection of duct tape I have seen, including Platypus Designer Duct Tape.)
·                 craft knife (X-Acto or other utility knife. We used these mini cutters)
·                 self-healing cutting mat or other cutting surface (we used sheets of Plexiglass from my salvaged window project)
·                 credit card/driver’s license
·                 3- by 4-inch piece of clear plastic for ID window (I cut up a roll of clear plastic I had on hand)
·                 12-inch ruler with metal edge

Main fabric:

1. Tear off four pieces of tape that are at least 9 inches long. (Don’t use scissors. Don’t use your knife. Rip it!) Place them sticky-side-up on your cutting surface. Stick them to each other (front-to-back), overlapping about 1/2 inch.

2. Tear off four more pieces the same length. Starting about 1/2 inch from the top, adhere one piece at a time (back-to-back). The last piece should overlap about 1/2 inch. (The reason you start 1/2-inch down is to stagger the thicker parts of the duct tape “fabric” you’re making. If you don’t, some parts of the fabric will be four layers thick, which is difficult to fold.)

3. Fold over the top and bottom edges. Your fabric should now be about 6 inches tall.

4. Using your ruler and knife, cut a clean edge on the left side. Always use your ruler when cutting with your knife.

5. Then measure 8-1/2 inches and trim the other edge. Set aside.

Credit card pockets:

6. Tear off two pieces of tape about 5 inches long. Overlap them the same as step 1.

7. Tear off two more 5-inch pieces and adhere the same as step 2.

8. Fold over the top and bottom edges the same as step 3. This large pocket should be about 3 inches tall.

9. Using your ruler and knife, cut a clean edge on the left side.

10. Then measure 4 inches and trim the other edge. Set aside.

11. Tear off two pieces these are about 9 inches long. Stick them directly back-to-back.

12. Cut this double-sided piece into two 4-inch long pieces. These are your smaller pockets.

13. Tear off a 5-inch piece of tape. Rip it lengthwise down the middle. (Yes, I said rip it. Fast. You can do it. Don’t worry if it’s not exactly down the middle.)

14. Use two of the ripped pieces to make a top border on each of the small pockets. Tape the top edge, then fold over. Trim the excess.

15. Tear off a 4-inch piece of tape. Rip it lengthwise down the middle.

16. Stack the pockets on top of each other. Stagger the height of the two smaller ones evenly.

17. Place a credit card on top of the stacked pockets to make sure you leave enough space for your cards. Using one of your ripped pieces, tape the left side of your pockets right up to the edge of the credit card. Fold it over to the back side and trim the excess with your ruler and knife. Do not tape the right side yet.

ID window:

18. Use another ripped piece to tape the right edge of your window. Fold it over and trim the excess. Do not tape any other edge yet. Set aside.

Final assembly:

19. Fold your main fabric in half lengthwise. Make sure the height of your pockets, window, and wallet are all the same height (3 inches). If not, trim them as necessary.

20. Unfold the main fabric. Place the window and pockets in opposite upper corners of your main fabric. Rip a 9-inch piece of tape lengthwise. Option 1: Use one piece to tape the top edge all the way across. Or option 2: Using your knife and ruler, cut one of the pieces in half endwise. Tape the window down, lining up the cut edge with the right side of the window. Then tape the pockets down, lining up the cut edge with the left side of the pockets. Trim off the excess.

21. Tear off another 4-inch piece of tape. Rip it lengthwise down the middle.

22. Refold your main fabric. Place a credit card on top of the pockets. Using one of the ripped pieces, tape the right side of your wallet right up against the edge of your credit card. Fold it over the entire wallet. Trim the excess with your knife.

23. Tape the left edge (window side) of your wallet the same way. Trim the excess.

24. Following either option 1 or 2 in step 20, tape the bottom edge the same way. This piece will show on the outside of your wallet, so follow option 1 if you want a contrasting border. (You can cut out a notch on the inside, if you prefer.)

25. Fold your wallet in half endwise, then press it flat.

26. Add decoration with duct tape as desired. You’re done!

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C’est tout, mes amis

Peggy Henshall

Cajun Stitchery

(850) 261-2462

cajunstitchery@yahoo.com

P.S.  You are always welcome to stop by and look at all of the catalogs and pass some time with me, cher.

Cajun Corner - Vol. 4, No. 13

Cajun Corner – Vol. 4, No. 13 – April 7, 2012

Bon Jour!  Welcome to Cajun Stitchery’s weekly email and welcome to our family.

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Don’t forget to visit our blog at www.cajunstitchery.blogspot.com, and www.cajunstitchery.etsy.com often.   We are also on Twitter and Facebook. 

Visit our on-line catalogs at:

http://www.imprintit.biz/cgi-bin/cobrand/site.w?location=olc/catalog-home.w&top=catalog&frasmes=no&target=main&sponsor=000699

and www.companycasuals.com/cajunstitchery.

This week I’ve been able to do a bit of catch up work and try out some techniques that have intrigued me.

The first technique was embroidering scalloped edges on a tee shirt.  Using the appliqué technique, I digitized a simple scalloped placement line, then a tack down line, then the satin stitch.  After sewing the tack down line, I was able to trim the excess fabric as in appliqué.  When the satin stitch sewed out the fabric was trimmed and left a very nice scalloped edge.  I used a tear away stabilizer.  The only problem with the tear away stabilizer is that when you tear it away some fuzzy cotton residue remains.  That’s not so bad if you are embroidering with white thread, but the darker the thread the more obvious the fuzz.  There are a couple of ways to deal with the fuzz.  One is to trim the fuzz that you can and then using a magic marker the same color as the thread, cover the fuzz with the magic marker.  Another method is to singe it off, but only if your thread is a poly-type threads that will melt.  The final method is to just leave it.  Most people won’t even notice.  Another technique is to hoop plastic or wash away, instead of the tear away.  It was my tee shirt and I used tear away, trimmed away any noticeable fuzz and let it go.  It looked good enough for me.

Next, I wanted to begin practicing some continuous hooping a/k/a multi-hooping.  This is where you embroider a design that is larger than your hoop.  After embroidering the design in the hoop; un-hoop and re-hoop the design in such a way that the embroidery will begin in the new hoop where the previous embroidery stopped.  I used the scalloped edges of the previously mentioned tee shirt.  Paying close attention to where the first stitch is placed and pinning the fabric in place, the continuous/multi hooping project proceeded without a hitch.  The end of the multi-hooping, when doing a continuous hooping that meets at the other side, i.e., table cloth edging or scalloped edges on a tee shirt, should match perfectly with the beginning.  In other words, the last stitch of the last hooping should meet with the first stitch of the first hooping.  Alas, mine did not.  The tee shirt was very stretchy and I ended up with a space of about one scallop, which I kind of slid into place.  That is not the most professional method but it worked in a pinch.

The scalloped edged continuous hooping was very simplistic.  This technique can become quite arduous with more complicated designs.  Therefore, I need to practice, practice, and practice.

My mama loved scalloped edges.  She thought they were very feminine and had a professional look.  Hand embroidered scallops require drawing and cutting the scallops; then sewing a running stitch near the depth of the scallop satin stitch; and finally, tightly and evenly sewing the satin stitch along the edge.  That is much too time consuming for me.  On a sewing machine there are a couple of techniques.  One is just like the hand embroidered satin stitch, except you use a tear away or wash away stabilizer after the edges are cut.  Good luck getting those to look right.  The simpler way is not to cut the fabric but sew the scallops and come back and trim the excess fabric from the scalloped edges.  This is especially nice if you have a scallop stitch on your sewing machine.  But you have to be very careful not to accidentally clip a satin stitch.  This method is used frequently on items at stores.  The embroidery machine method, explained above, gives the best of both worlds.  The end result is a satin stitched scallop without the clipped fabric showing and no snipped stitches.  Of course, scalloped edges can be done easily on a sewing machine by using a facing, but that isn’t embroidery and embroidery is what I do.

Scallops are not the only thing done this week.  We had an accident at the house.  One of the burners on the stove was left on and a pot holder somehow was on the burner.  The pot holder burned.  Don’t worry.  There was no damage other than a ruined pot holder.  The pot holder is one that I made several years ago and was our favorite.  Pot holders were probably the first thing that Mama taught me to sew.  They are a great way to use scrap fabric.  The nice thing about making pot holders is that they are not as thin and flimsy as most store bought pot holders, and they are large enough to be useful.  The ITH (In The Hoop) designs for pot holders all seem to be too small and too flimsy.  Awhile back I did design and made some pot holders ITH but they were not exactly what I wanted.

BASIC POT HOLDER

1.      Find the fabric you want to use for the pot holder.

2.      Embroider the design you want on ½ the fabric for the pot holder.

3.      Cut the fabric, leaving enough around the edges for your seam.  This step can also be done before the embroidery process as long as you have enough fabric to hoop.  I cut mine on a fold.  I like a pot holder about 6” wide and 8” tall.

4.      With right sides together, sew a seam around 3 sides, leaving one side open for stuffing.  Turn.

5.      Take some scrap fabric, or whatever you want to use for stuffing, and place inside the pouch.  Lay the pouch down and spread the stuffing evening throughout the pouch.  Do not fill tight, just enough to give a nice, thick, quilted pot holder.

6.      Turn the open end inside and pin closed.

7.      Run your sewing machine over the entire pouch a few times, creating the quilting and sew the end closed.

8.      Trim your threads and voila!  You have a pot holder. 

Of course, this pot holder is very simple.  There are all kinds of pot holders and designs for pot holders.  Mama always taught me to save scraps of fabric and keep a bag by my machine for the trimmed off thread and little bits of fabric and lace.  These come in very handy on many sewing occasions.  I’ve been teased a lot about saving all of my scraps but when I was making those little letter pillows to spell “Cajun Stitchery”, those scraps came in very handy.  When making Evie a soft pillow those scraps came in handy.  There are numerous uses for scraps.

Our new puppy, Sammy, is acclimating to life at our home.  We searched online about how to introduce a puppy to an older dog and found several articles.  Basically, you just let them alone and they will handle it.  Make sure the older dog gets lots of petting and attention.  One article specifically addressed a male and female dog and said, “The bottom line is that the bitch rules.”  It is obvious that Evie rules in this situation.  However, I liked the sentence so much that I told George it is now my mantra.

Tonight George and I continue our tradition of Easter Egg Dying. 

HAPPY EASTER

If you are not a subscriber and would like to receive Cajun Corner weekly, please email cajunstitchery@yahoo.com and let me know to put you on our email list. 

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A little shimmer never hurt anyone! Add some metallic or glitter stripes you your Easter eggs to give them a super glam look! Easter just got super stylish!

Found this at:  http://www.ehow.com/how_2126489_make-homemade-easter-egg-dye.html

 

HOW TO MAKE HOME MADE EASTER EGG DYE

Instructions

1.  

o                                1

Add vinegar as a mordant. A mordant prepares the fiber to accept and hold the dye. Vinegar is safe to use on eggs because it can be ingested. You need 1 to 2 Tablespoons per batch of dye that you make.

o                                2

Make homemade dye with produce or pantry items. The outer layers of an onion make brown dye, spinach or dandelion leaves make green dye and celery seed, ground turmeric or orange peels make yellow dye. Use crushed blueberries to make blue dye, crush cranberries or raspberries to make red dye and beet juice or chopped rhubarb to make pink dye. Put enough water to cover eggs, produce or pantry item and vinegar in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.

o                

o                                3

Use drinks to dye your Easter eggs. Add vinegar and hard boiled eggs to coffee or tea to dye them brown. You can make unsweetened Kool Aid into dye. Or you could use vibrant juices like grape juice or cranberry juice.

o                                4

Mix food coloring for dye. Add 20 to 40 drops of food coloring to a cup of water and vinegar. The amount of food coloring determines the shade of the color. You can mix different amounts two or more colors to create a variety of shades.

Tips & Warnings

·         Use gloves to prevent your hands and fingers absorbing your homemade dye.

·         Put newspaper under the area where you are dying Easter eggs to protect surfaces from dye.

·         Always allow your eggs to boil and then simmer for at least eight minutes.

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C’est tout, mes amis

Peggy Henshall

Cajun Stitchery

(850) 261-2462

cajunstitchery@yahoo.com

P.S.  You are always welcome to stop by and look at all of the catalogs and pass some time with me, cher.